Emart Flying Store

In May 2012, Emart created the Sunny Sale campaign which distributed coupons through a sun activated QR Code. Now in their latest campaign they have created “Flying Stores” which are nothing but truck-shaped balloons fitted with a Wifi router. šŸ˜Ž

These special balloon stores were floated in every corner of Seoul and people who could not get to an Emart store during the day, could then easily hook on to the balloons Wi-Fi signal and order directly online. As a result, Emart sales soared both in online and offline stores. Mobile sales increased by 157% and the E-Mart app got downloaded more than 50,000 times during the promotion month.

Also click here to see the 2011 flying fish balloons campaign done for the Sea Life park in Speyer, Germany.

Coca-Cola: FM Magazine Amplifier

Coca-Cola to promote its FM app in Brazil allowed readers of the Capricho magazine to simply roll up the magazine and transform it into a portable amplifier for their iPhones. All the readers had to do was insert the iPhone into the spot indicated and tune into the Coca-Cola FM application. šŸ˜Ž

Why this is clever

The idea turns print into a functional accessory. No electronics. No QR-code dependency. Just smart physical design that rewards curiosity and makes the app the natural next step.

  • One simple action. Roll the magazine, insert the iPhone, hit play.
  • Instant utility. Louder sound is a real, immediate benefit.
  • Media becomes product. The magazine is not only a channel. It is the device.

What to learn from it

This is a strong reminder that ā€œmobile activationā€ does not always need a screen-first mechanic. When you can create a physical trigger that is obvious and satisfying, you reduce friction and increase shareability. People demonstrate it to others because it is surprising, and because it works.


A few fast answers before you act

What is the Coca-Cola FM Magazine Amplifier?

It is a Capricho magazine execution in Brazil designed to be rolled into a tube that passively amplifies iPhone audio, used to promote the Coca-Cola FM app.

Why does a paper amplifier work at all?

The rolled shape acts like a simple acoustic horn, directing and concentrating the phone’s speaker output so it sounds louder.

What makes this effective as an app promotion?

The app is not advertised as a feature list. It is experienced. The physical utility creates a reason to open the app immediately.

What is the transferable pattern?

Turn media into a usable object, then connect that object to a single, obvious mobile behavior that completes the experience.

Shop and Pay on-the-go

In June last year I had covered how Homeplus in South Korea had created a virtual store in a subway station in order to blend into people’s everyday lives. Since then Procter & Gamble has set up the same virtual stores in four of the busiest subway stations in Prague and Chinese online supermarket Yihodian has also borrowed the idea and installed virtual supermarkets in 15 subway stations around Shanghai.

This year PayPal has also launched the same QR code shops in 15 Singapore subway stations and enabled commuters to buy Valentines gifts from eight different retailers by simply scanning the QR code on their smartphone…

In USA, PayPal has eliminated the need of a wallet or phone altogether. In a partnership with Home Depot, PayPal has begun to roll out an in-store service that enables payments at stores using only a mobile phone number and a pin number at checkout…

Money is truly being re-imagined and contactless payments is going to be a norm by late 2012.